Bidspirit auction | HUMBOLDT ALEXANDER VON: (1769-1859)

HUMBOLDT ALEXANDER VON: (1769-1859) - HUMBOLDT ALEXANDER VON: (1769-1859) German polymath, geographer, naturalist and explorer. A good A.L.S., ` Humboldt´, one page, 4to, [Paris], rue de la vieille Estrapade, `Wednesday´, [c.1810], to Madame Gautier, in French. Humboldt cannot attend an invitation although shows strong interest to meet his correspondent, stating ` Je suis infiniment peiné, Madame, qu´un engagement antérieur (chez Madame de Grollier) me prive du bonheur de profiter de l´invitation que vous daignez me faire d´une manière si flattante. J ’ose pour me dédommager de cette privation, vous demander la grâce de m’accorder un jour de la semaine prochaine, mardi, mercredi, vendredi. Vous voyez que je m’y prends un peu librement. C’est un reste de la vie des bois. Mais je sais que vous me pardonnez ces retours vers l’Orénoque...´ (Translation: ” I am deeply saddened, Madam, that a prior commitment (at Madame de Grollier's) deprives me of the pleasure of accepting the invitation you so graciously extend to me. To compensate for this deprivation, I dare to ask the favor of granting me a day next week—Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday. You see, I am taking some liberty in this matter. It's a remnant of my life in the woods. But I know you will forgive me these returns to the Orinoco...”) Humboldt refers to his expedition to the Orinoco river in 1800. Small overall minor creasing and age wear, otherwise G With adress leaf.